Poor leadership to blame for African unity woes – Dr Lloyd Amoah

Africa’s poor leadership is to blame for the continent’s inability to be fully integrated, one devoid of social and economic barriers, Dr Lloyd Amoah has said.

As the continent celebrates African Union Day on Monday, May 25, the lecturer at the Ashesi University noted that until the right infrastructures, including leadership, are put in place, the goal of African unity will continue to be mirage.

“If that infrastructure is neglected for quite a long time and not much effort [is] placed in that direction, it is not then strange that you begin to have the kinds of challenges that you have for a group of people [Africa],” Dr Lloyd Amoah said on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM Monday.

Citing the success stories of countries like Asia and Europe, the lecturer said Africa’s woes have nothing to do with “phenotype” or “genotype” but rather it is a question of the right infrastructure-which is leadership.

Policy Analyst, Serlom Branttie observed that Africans are one of the most innovative people on the planet and that “the African is as good as anyone.”

He noted that, there is nothing united about Africa citing that till date, the continent does not even have a common force for peace keeping purposes.

The continent, Mr Branttie bemoaned, lacks or has little policy consistency towards the provision of transportation, fight aganist poverty and improvement in education, better livelihood and maximization of resources.

“Most leaders are not able to think ahead or have a vision as to how new things can change the old order and I believe that because of that we are missing out on most opportunities,” that would have helped the continent develop.

Africa lacks ‘Magnetic leadership’. “If it is good leadership, it must attract ideas…How can every divergent view be seen as an act of war,” the policy analyst quizzed.

Ghanaian rapper M.anifest, born Kwame Ametepee Tsikata, also speaking on the subject said the role of music and creative arts cannot be ignored when discussing African unity. He noted that the arts have the power to break barriers and boundaries.

He recalled that his grandfather always told him that Kwame Nkrumah considered arts as a political priority because of its role in educating and breaking barriers for Africa unity.

Kwame Nkrumah, he added, is a reference point for African unity because he was a visionary leader who believed in the power of the creative industry as pivotal tool for African unity.

The award winning rapper therefore urged Africans to be more creative to help promote the continent’s unity.